Amusement apparatus.



G. MULLER. AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, l9l4. 1,141,821 Patented June 1, 1915.

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E F A F Hg] E 4 E \Z r 1J2 Ai A 0 g .2 E R WITNESSES WWW BY W ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LlrHa. WASHINGTON. D. C

G. MULLER.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. I914.

Patented J 11110 1, 1915.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 //VVE/V7 U/? George J'ifuller A TTOR/VEYS THE IW'QRIS PETERS CO PHOTO LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. c

GEORGE MULLER, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1%15.

Application filed May 23, 1914. Serial No. 840,478.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE, MULLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved amusement apparatus more especially designed for use in pleasure resorts, parks, fairs and like places, and arranged to carry passengers through the air in imitation of a trip in an aeroplane.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a revoluble central mast, a superstructure mounted to rotate with and to slide up and down on the said mast, passenger carriers in the form of imitation flying machines, and flexible connections for suspending the said carriers from the superstructure.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference inclicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the amusement apparatus, part of -the platform being broken out; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of part of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is across section of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. A is an enlarged cross section of the controlling device for the mechanism employed for raising and lowering the superstructure and its carriers; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the mast and the hub of the superstructure, the sec tion being on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

On a suitably constructed platform A is mounted a vertically disposedbearing B in which turns a mast or a central post G extending a suitable distance above the platform A. A superstructure D, such as is generally used in merry-go-roundais provided with a hub D mounted to slide up and down on the mast C, the hub having a key D engaging a keyway C formed on the mast C to cause the superstructure D to rotate with the said mast C. i

To the superstructure D are secured flexible connections'E, such as ropes or cables, supporting passenger carriers F, each preferably in the form of an aeroplane, provided with wheels F adapted to travel on the platform A at the time the superstructure D is in lowermost position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Thelower end of the mast 0 extends below the platform A and on this lower end is secured a bevel gear wheel G in mesh with a bevel gear wheel G secured on a transversely extending shaft H journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the under side of the platform A. The shaft H is connected with a suitable motor'I, preferably by the use of a pulley H secured on the shaft H, and over which pulley passes a belt H also passing around a pulley H secured on the shaft 1 of the motor I. The motor I is preferably of the electric type controlled by a suitable switch I mounted on top of the platform A and within convenient reach of the attendant in charge of the amusement apparatus.

The lower end of the hub D of the superstructure D rests on'a cross head J secured to the upper ends of vertically disposed rods J mounted to slide up and down in suitable bearings B arranged on opposite sides of the bearing B. The lower ends of the rods J extend below the platform A and to the lower terminals of the said rods are secured ropes J extending upwardly and passing over pulleys J journaled on the under side of the platform A. The free ends of the ropes J carry counterweights J for counterbalancing the superstructure D and its load with a view to insure easy running of the apparatus. To the lower terminals of the rods J are also secured ropes K extending upwardly and passing over guide pulleys K and K arranged on the underside of the platform A to direct the ropes K onto a drum L on which wind and unwind the said ropes K. The drum L is mounted to turn loosely on a shaft N journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the under side of the platform A, and on one end of the shaft N is secured a bevel gear wheel N in mesh with a bevel gear wheel N secured on the driving shaft H so that when the latter is rotated from the motor I then a rotary motion is given to the shaft N by the gear wheels N and N.' A clutch mechanism is used to permit of rotating the drum L with the shaft N and for this purpose the drum L is provided with a notch L adapted to engage a pin N on the shaft N (see Fig. 1), so that when the drum L is shifted to the right and the notch L engages the pin N thenthe rotary motion of the shaft N is transmitted to the drum L with a view to Wind upthe cords K. When this takes place the cords KveXert an upwardpull on the rods J to move the latter upward in their bearings B and 1n doing so the cross side of the platform A. The other end 0 of the brake band 0 forms a handle and is provided with an aperture 0 through Which extends the pin P to form a fulcrum for the end 0 with a view to allow the operator to impart a swinging motion to the brake band 0 to shift the drum L on the shaft N with a view to move the notch L into and out of engagement with the pin N according to the direction in which the handle O of the brake band 0 is moved at a time. Normally the handle end 0 of the brake band 0 rests on the bottom of the bracket P and when the handle end is in this positionthe brake band 0 is loose relatively to the brake wheel L When the operator swings the handle endO upward then the.

brake band 0 is tightened around the brake wheel L to brake the latter. In practice the handle end 0 of the brake band 0 engages a slot Q in a hand lever Q fulcrumed on a bracket Q attached to the under side of the platform A. The hand lever Q, extends to the top of the platform adjacent the switchI so as to be within convenient reach of the.

attendant in charge of the machine. The under side of the handle end 0 of the brake band 0 is engaged by a button R of a lever R fulcrumed on a bracket R attached to the under side of the platform A, and the said lever B is provided with an upwardly extending rod R reaching a short distance above the platform A so as to be within convenient reach of the attendants foot. Thus when the operator presses the rod R downward an upward swinging motion is given to the handle end 0 to apply the brake band O on the brake wheel L It is understood that when the operator shifts the lever Q,

' sidewisea sidewise swinging motion is given to the handle end 0 of the brake band 0 to move the drum L on the shaft N with a view to engage the notch L with to disengage the notch L as previously explained.

The upper ends of the bearings B are provided with springs S through which extend the rods J, and the said springs form a cushion for the cross head J when the latter moves into lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The top of the mast C is provided with a collar G to limit the upward sliding movement of the superstructure D on the mast O. 7

the pin L or from the said pin,

several parts are in the position shown Figs. 2 and 3, the wheels F are on the-platform A, and when the motor I is starteda rotary motion is transmitted by the shaft and the gear wheels G, G to the mast C to,

rotate the latter, and as the superstructure V D turns with the mast it is evident that the carriers F are carried around in a c rcle with the wheelsF traveling on the platform A.

After the superstruoture D has made a few 7 turns the attendant in charge imparts a swingingmotion to the left to the lever Q, so as to shift the drum L to the right with a view to engage the notchLwith the pin N and-when this. takes -'place'the drum L is rotated from the shaft N rotating in uni-- son with the shaft H. The rotating drum L now winds up the-ropes K so that the rods J are moved upward and in doing so the cross head J lifts the superstructure D' and with it the carriers F so that thelatter are raised above the platform A and are themf selves freely suspended from the superstructure D. It will be noticed that as the superstructure D is rotated and the carriers F are now freely suspended and travel around in a circle they are caused to fly outward by centrifugal force, the flexible connections E permitting such movement. It will also be;

noticed that the passengers in the carriers F are not only carried around-but also upward and outward, thus practically enjoying the sensation of a trip in an aeroplane.-

WVhen the superstructure D has reached a desired height the attendant in charge swings the lever Q, back to its former position to disengage the notch L N and at the same time the operator presses the pin R to cause the brakeband O to brake the wheel L? thus holding the drum L against return movement. .By. the arfrom the pin its rangement described the superstructure D can be held in raised sired length of time without interfering with its rotation, and when it is desired to lower the superstructure D the releases the brake band Orelatively; to the brake wheel L by correspondingly releasing the pin R When this takesplace the rods J gradually slide downward and thus lower the superstructure D' and with it the carriers F, and when the wheels F again reach the platform A the motor I thus finallv bringing the carriers 1; gradually to a standstill on the platform- 1 and lowered any desired distance and as many times as desired as to heighten the flying sensation of the passengers. I

The amusement apparatus shown and described is comparatively simple in construction and requires but a single attendant for running it. r r I position for any de operator stops the If desired the support D may be'raised' during each trip so operator gradually r turning the said-mast, and means for raising and lowering the said superstructure.

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mountedto turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up 5 and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, a vertically sliding support for the hub of the superstructure, and raising and lowering means for the said support.

3. An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mounted to turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guides and arranged on opposite sides of the said mast, a cross head on the upper ends of the said rods and sup porting the said hub, and means for imparting an up and down sliding motion to the said rods. i. An amusement apparatus,'comprising a mast mounted to turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended 40 from the said superstructure, a driving gear for said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guides and arranged on opposite sides of the said mast, a cross head on the upper ends of the said rods and supporting the said hub, a drum adapted to be driven from the said driving gear, and ropes winding on the said drum and connected with the said rods.

5. An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mounted to turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down onthe said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guidesand arranged on 0pposite sides of the said mast, a cross head on theupper ends of the said rods and support ing the said hub, a drum, a flexible connection between the drum and the said rods, a

drum shaft driven from the said driving gear and on which the saiddrum is mounted to turn loosely, a clutch for connecting the said drum and shaft, and a brake for braking the drum.

6. An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mounted to turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guides and arranged on opposite sides of the said mast, a cross head on the upper ends of the said rods and supporting the said hub, a drum, a flexible connection between the said drum and the said rods, a drum shaft driven from the said driving gear and on which the said drum is mounted toturn loosely and to slide in the g0 direction of its axis, clutch members on the said drum and shaft, a brake wheel on the said drum, and a combination brake band and shifting lever engaging the said brake wheel.

7 An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mounted to turn on its axis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guides and arranged on opposite sides of the said mast, across head on the upper ends of the said rods and supporting the said hub, means for imparting an up and down sliding motion to the said rods, and counterbalancing means for the said rods.

8. An amusement apparatus, comprising a mast mounted to turn on itsaxis, a superstructure having a hub mounted to slide up and down on the said mast and turning with the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the said superstructure, a driving gear for the said mast, fixed guides, rods slidable in the said guides and arranged on opposite sides of the said mast, a cross head on the upper ends of the said rods and supporting the said hub, means for imparting I an up and down sliding motion to the said rods, and a cushioning device for the said cross head when the latter moves into lowermost position.

9. An amusement apparatus, comprising a vertically arranged support mounted to turn on itsaxis, a superstructure mounted to rotate with said support and to slide up and down thereon, means for rotating said support, means for raising and lowering the superstructure, passenger carriers in the form of imitation flying machines, and flexible connections for suspending the said carriers from the said superstructure to allow the carriers to swing outward by centrifugal 12 force while rotating the superstructure and carriers and raising or lowering the same.

10. An amusement apparatus, comprising a platform, a revoluble central mast, a superstructure mounted to rotate with and to slide up and down on the'said mast, passenger carriers in the form of imitation flying machines provided With Wheels adapted to travel on thesaid platform, flexible connections for suspending the said carriers from the superstructure, driving means for rotating the mast, and means actuated by said driving means for imparting a sliding movement to the said superstructure. 0 11. An amusement apparatus, comprising a superstructure mounted to rotate and to slide up and down, passenger carriers suspended from sald superstructure, a vertl- 'cally movable support on which the said superstructure rests, means for rotating the superstructure, and means for raising and lowering the said vertically movable support for the superstructure.

12. An amusement apparatus, comprising a platform, a revoluble central platform, a superstructure mounted to slide on the said mast and to turn With the latter, passenger carriers suspended from the'said superstructure, a driving gear for turning the mast, a support having guided vertical movement and on which the said superstruc ture rests, andmeans forraising and loWer- 7 ing the'said support and controlled by the said driving gear. V

- In testimony WlIGI'GOf I' have signed myof two subscribing Witnesses. V 7

GEORGE MULLER. Witn'esses: 7 p FREDERICK MULLER,

THEO. G. 'Hosrna.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the F Commissioner of Patents, i

Washington, D. G. r p

mast on said '20 name to this specification in the presence 

